Key case with removable key retainer



Dec. 25, 1962 w. J. MCGLYNN KEY CASE WITH REMOVABLE KEY RETAINER FiledDec. 24, 1959 INV EN TOR.

WALTER Cl. McGLYNN ATTORNEY FIG. 3

United States Patent ()fiice 3,070,142 Patented Dec. 25, 1962 giniaFiled Dec. 24, 1959, Ser. No. 861,858 6 Ciaims. (Cl. 150-40) Thisinvention relates to new and useful improvements in key cases andparticularly to a key case having an independent key retaining memberseparable from the case as well as key retaining means secured directlyto the case.

While there are several variations of key cases on the market, none ofthe present cases incorporate means for easily separating one set ofkeys from the other so that each set may be used simultaneously atdifferent places. It is often necessary to separate some of the keysfrom the case such as, for example, when leaving an automobile at agarage for servicing. In conventional key cases it is necessary todetach the automobile keys from the case and leave the keys with thecar. This necessitates the manipulation of the key retaining means,usually snap rings, hooks or beaded chains, a task that is difficult andoften damaging to the chain or hook.

The purpose of this invention is to provide a key case having tworetaining means, one of them being easily separated or removed from thecase itself. Thus, when it is necessary to leave one set of keys such asthose for an automobile at a different place, all that is necessary isto take the removable retaining means containing the necessary keys outfrom the case. Both sets of keys are then separated, yet each set issecurely held together by its own retaining means. Furthermore, the keycase containing the entire unit affords simple construction in that itconsists of a flap folded over the inside of the back face forming apocket for the removable member as well as the keys directly attached tothe case. An enclosure folds over the flap and retaining means forming aflat and conventional appearing case.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a new and usefulkey case having separable key retaining means removable as a unit fromthe case.

A further object of this invention is to provide a key case havingpockets therein for enclosing a removable key retaining means as well askeys attached directly to the case.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a key case havinga first set of key retaining means attached to a member removable fromthe case and a second set of key retaining means secured directly to thecase.

Other and further objects of the invention are those inherent andapparent in the apparatus as described, pictured and claimed.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends this inventioncomprises the features hereinafter fully described and particularlypointed out in the claims. The following description sets forth indetail certain illustrative embodiments of the invention, however theseare only a few of the various ways in which the invention may be used oremployed.

This invention will be described with reference to the several figuresof the drawings. Corresponding numerals refer to the same parts and:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the case in closed position;

FIG. 2 is a bottom view of the case showing the removable key retainingmember partially in dotted lines seated in the case and the closurepanel for the same is open position;

FIG. 3 is a top view of the case in open position showing the removablekey retaining member at the side thereof and the inside panel forming anenclosure for the removable key retaining member;

FIG. 4 is an end view of the case showing the pocket enclosure for theremovable key retaining member; and

FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view with the closure flap broken away takenalong the lines and in the direction of the arrows 5-5 of FIG. 1.

With reference now to the drawings and particularly FIG. 1, there isshown a case generally designated 10. Case 10 is die cut from a blank ofmaterial such as leather, plastic and the like. The blank is folded toform three flaps or panels which make up the structure of the case. Thepanels comprise a rear panel 11 which has a center panel 12 folded alongfold 13 substantially coextensive over panel 11. The free flap of panel12 is secured to rear panel 11 by a pair of rivets 14 and 15 disposedshort distance below the upper edge of the case in spaced relation fromfold 13. Also adjacent the upper edge of panel v11 is a key hookretaining member comprising a fiat metal plate 16 shown by dotted linesin FIG. 3 which has an upper convoluted edge to form a plurality ofloops 17. Plate 16 is inserted between panels 12 and 11 shown best inFIG. 5 and is secured in place by rivets 14 and 15 so that back panel11, plate 16 and panel 12 are secured to each other in a composite unitspaced from the top of the case. A plurality of resilient key retaininghooks 18 are swivelly connected between loops 17 in conventional mannerto secure key 19, only one key being shown.

Turning to the construction of panel 12, an arcuate section 20 is diestamped out of the upper port-ion thereof to form a pocket opening forkeys retained by hooks 18, best shown in FIGURE 3. Inasmuch as panel 12is secured to panel 11 only at the top of the case by rivets 14 and 15,the lower portion of panel 12 below section 20 forms a free flap orpocket enclosure 21 under which key 19 attached to hooks 18 may beretained.

The position of attachment of panel 12 to panel 11 provides a pocket oraperture 22 extending the length of the case adjacent fold 13, best seenin FIGS. 4 and 5. The convolution of fold 13 forms one side of thepocket and the attachment of panel 12 at its upper end to plate 16 andpanel 11 forms the opposite side.

In the device, as shown in the drawings or the modification describedabove, pocket 22 slidably retains the removable key retaining element23. Element 23 may be in the form of a pocket knife, finger nail file orother similar accessory. A bead chain 24 is suitably secured to one endof the element for retaining keys. Inasmuch as pocket 22 extends thelength of the case, element 23 may be of any desired length up to thefull length of case It). The element 23 is inserted into pocket 22 andcarried in the case until it is necessary to use the keys attached tochain 24 separately from those attached to hooks 13. The element is thensimply removed from pocket 22 so that the keys attached thereto or theaccessory may be used apart from the case.

A tongue 25 integrally formed and die cut with the case, extends frompanel 12 over pocket 22 for closure of the pocket. When in closedposition, it is folded over the top of pocket 22 and secured by clasp 26positioned on the end of tongue 25 which is snappingly received by themated clasp 27, positioned on panel 11, best shown in FIGURE 4.

If desired, tongue 25 can be eliminated and the pocket stitched closedat its top. In its place, a rectangular notch or cutout may be formed inthe upper portion of panel 12 over pocket area 22 adjacent loops 17.Element 23 is then seated in pocket 22 by inserting it through the notchor cutout. It is also understood that any other suitable means forsecuring the element 23 in the pocket 22 may be used.

Integral with case and die cut from the blank, is a closure flap 28Closure flap 28 folds over panel 12 along fold line 29 so as tocompletely enclose panel 12 and the key retaining means therein. Flap 23is secured in place by snap clasps 29 and 30, shown in FIGURE 3. Sincetongue 25 is secured to panel 11 by clasps 26 and 27 oppose to theposition of the closure flap the former may be opened for removingelement 23 without the necessity of detaching flap 28. When it isdesired to use key 19 closure flap 27 is simply opened by releasing itfrom its clasps 29 and 30.

It is to be understood that the specific embodiments described above aregiven by way of example only and the invention is limited only by thescope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A key case formed from a blank and comprising; a rear panel; keyretaining means fixed to the top of said rear panel; a second panelfolded over the back face of said rear panel along a fold line at oneside of said rear panel, the body of said second panel fixed to saidrear panel in overlapped relation with said key retaining means, thelower portion of said second panel forming a free flap for containingthe keys retained by said fixed key retaining means; a removable keyretaining member held within a pocket, the pocket being formed by theconvolution of the fold adjacent the fold line between said rear paneland second panel, the pocket having means thereon for restraining saidremovable key retaining member; and a closure panel foldable over saidsecond panel along a fold line opposite the fold line between said rearpanel and said second panel, said closure panel having means forremovably securing it to said second panel.

2. A key case comprising; a back panel having key retaining meanssecured to the inside face thereof adjacent the top edge of said panel;a center panel integrally joined to said back panel along a fold line atone side of said back panel; said center panel folded along the foldline coextensively over the inside face of said back panel; the body ofsaid center panel being joined to said back panel by shank meansextending through the key retaining member, said center panel having anelongated pocket formed with said back panel by the convolutions of thefold along the fold line and a free flap below the key retaining meansfor retaining keys held thereby; a separate key retaining memberremovably secured in the pocket of said center panel and a closure panelintegrally formed with said back panel and foldable over said case.

3. A key case having a rear panel; a key holding member secured to theinside face of said rear panel adjacent the top edge thereof having ametal plate with looped sections on the upper edge thereof and keyretaining hooks swivelly joined to the looped sections; a center panelintegrally joined to said rear panel along a fold line at one sidethereof, and folded substantially coextensively over said rear panel,the upper free end of said center panel being joined to said rear paneland key holding member by rivets extending through the metal plate ofsaid key holding member, said center panel having an arcuate cutoutportion below said key holding member for allowing keys secured to thehooks to extend therethrough and a free flap below said cut-out portionfor enclosing the keys between the free flap and said rear panel; apocket formed by the convolutions of the fold along the fold linebetween the rear panel and center panel and extending the length of thefold line, said pocket having a closure member at the top thereof; anelongated key retaining member removably insertable into said pocket anda closure panel integrally joined to the back panel opposite thejuncture of said back panel with said center panel and foldable oversaid rear and center panels for enclosing the same.

4. A key case having a rear panel, the rear panel having key retainingmeans secured to the upper edge thereof; a front closure panel forenclosing said case; a center panel disposed between said rear panel andfront closure panel, said center panel being integrally joined to therear panel at one side thereof and folded substantially coextensivelyover the inside face of said rear panel forming an elongated pocketalong the fold, the pocket being formed by the convolutions of the foldand the back faces of said rear panel and center panel, the free end ofsaid center panel being joined to said rear panel by shank meansextending through the key retaining means, said center panel havingfurther an arcuate cut-out portion below its attachment at the free endwith said rear panel for allowing keys attached to the key retainingmeans to enter therethrough and a free flap below the cut-out portionmovable out from the back face of said rear panel for allowing keysattached to the key retaining means to be positioned between the flapand said rear panel; and an elongated key retaining member for retaininga separate set of keys being removably insertable into said pocket.

5. A key case comprising; a rear panel; a closure panel joined to oneside of said rear panel and foldable over said rear panel and havingclasp means to removably secure it in place; a key retainer having aflat metal plate and a plurality of loops for holding key hooks disposedadjacent the top edge of said panel, a center panel integrally joined tosaid rear panel opposite the juncture of said rear panel with saidenclosure panel and foldable to a position between the same, theconvolution of the fold forming a pocket extending the length of thefold, the walls thereof comprising the back faces of said rear panel andcenter panel, the body of said center panel secured at the top to themetal plate of said key retainer by a plurality of rivets and having anarcuate cut-out portion below said key retainer for allowing keysattached thereto to be positioned over the back face of said rear paneland a free flap below said cut-out portion for covering the keys; afoldable closure flap over the top of said pocket having means to secureit in place; and an elongated key retainer member for insertion in saidpocket and secured therein by said foldable flap.

6. A key case comprising in combination; a base panel; permanent key,retaining means secured adjacent the upper end of said base panel forsecuring set of keys; an intermediate panel integrally joined to oneside of said base panel and folded with an extended looped foldcoextensively over the inner face of said base panel and key retainingmeans, the extended looped fold forming a pocket along the juncture ofsaid base and intermediate panels for housing a removable key holder,said intermediate panel attached at its upper end to said key retainingmeans, the lower portion thereof forming a free flap over the inner faceof said base panel and having a cut out portion formed therein to allowa set of keys secured to said key retaining means to extend therethroughand seat over the inner face of said base panel; and a closure panelintegrally joined to said base panel opposite said intermediate panelfor folding over and enclosing said case.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Re.16,946 Rosenthal May 1, 1928 2,224,972 Long et al Dec. 17, 19402,416,477 Gamache Feb. 25, 1947 2,812,606 Painter Nov. 12, 1957

